held up towards rear, headway before 5 out to chase leaders, went 2nd before 4 out, led 3 out, kept on well from last
close up, ridden before 4 out, soon weakened
close up, pushed along and lost place from 5 out
tracked leaders, soon went 2nd, led 13th, headed after 5 out, kept on from last
in rear, mistake 12th, headway before 4 out, hit last, kept on to chase winner run-in, no impression
led, headed 13th, led after 5 out, headed 3 out, kept on and lost 2nd place run-in
ROYAL PLAYER completed a double over hurdles in the early part of last year and bounced right back on just his second start over fences at Ludlow. A 9lb rise looks tough but he's progressive and probably capable of defying the extra. Lively Baron gained the eighth victory of his career and fifth over fences at Carlisle in May and will have needed his comeback run back there in October. Winning point-to-pointer and hurdler Dream Flyer was having only his second start over fences when beating three rivals at Wetherby so there should be more to come. Blenheim Brook needs a thorough test of stamina as he showed when landing a similar class event to this over 3m4f at Haydock. An early mistake knocked the stuffing out of Island Heights at Sedgefield but he stayed on at the finish and this longer trip is required. Lord Wishes has won over hurdles here but shown nothing so far over fences.
Royal Player 11-2 (11-1) Mistake 1st, held up in rear, steady headway on inside after 5 out, tracked leaders next, challenged on outside 2 out, led last, ridden and hung right flat, kept on, won at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Dec beating Gorsky Island (11-5) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.
Lively Baron (IRE) 4-1fav (11-12) Keen prominent, ridden 15th, weakened 2 out, 5th of 9, 19l behind Incentivise (10-10) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Oct.
Lord Wishes (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Always in rear and mistakes, reminders after 2nd, pulled up, in a race won by Wakanda (11-4) at Kelso 2m 7f nov chs (3) sft in Dec, 6 ran.
Dream Flyer (IRE) 11-4 (10-10) Tracked leaders, led 12th, blundered and headed 13th, led before 4 out, not fluent last, kept on well and veered right last 75 yards, won at Wetherby 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Dec beating Many Stars (11-9) by 3l, 4 ran.
Island Heights (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Behind, headway 12th, went 2nd before last, no impression, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Sharp Rise (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Oct.
Blenheim Brook (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Held up in touch, went 3rd from 7th, weakened before 2 out, 3rd of 5, 46l behind Sharney Sike (11-0) at Hexham 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Dec.
